Phased array antenna device

1. A phased array antenna device ( 1 ), comprising:

a plurality of antenna elements ( 2 ) arranged in a spatial distribution that allows for the phased array antenna device ( 1 ) to emit and receive superposing radio frequency signals to and from different directions,

wherein each antenna element ( 2 ) is positioned within a corresponding unit cell ( 3 ) of the phase array antenna device ( 1 ) and

wherein the unit cells ( 3 ) are arranged in a non-overlapping manner next to each other;

a feeding network ( 5 ) for transmitting antenna signals between a common control unit ( 4 ) and the respective antenna element ( 2 ),

wherein the feeding network ( 5 ) comprises a plurality of antenna element transmission line segments ( 10 ), each running into an antenna element ( 2 );

a plurality of phase shifting devices ( 11 ),

wherein for each antenna element ( 2 ) a corresponding phase shifting device ( 11 ) is arranged along the respective antenna element signal transmission line ( 10 ) that runs into said antenna element ( 2 ); and

a plurality of feeding transmission line segments ( 7 ),

wherein each feeding transmission line segment ( 7 ) comprises more than two transition structures ( 9 ) distributed along the feeding transmission line segment ( 7 ),

wherein each transition structure ( 9 ) provides for a signal coupling into a corresponding antenna element transmission line segment ( 10 ), thereby connecting several dedicated antenna element transmission line segments ( 10 ) with the same feeding transmission line segment ( 7 ), and

wherein the transition structure ( 9 ) for an antenna element transmission line segment ( 10 ) that runs into a unit cell ( 3 ) is positioned in the direction of the feeding transmission line segment ( 7 ) passing by or traversing this unit cell ( 3 ) at a phase shifting distance that is larger than an extension of the unit cell ( 3 ) measured in this direction.

2. The phased array antenna device ( 1 ) according to claim 1 ,

wherein the phase shifting distance is between one and two extensions of the unit cell ( 3 ).

3. The phased array antenna device ( 1 ) according to claim 1 ,

wherein subsequent transition structures ( 9 ) are designed in such a way that the antenna element transmission line segments ( 10 ) of consecutive transition structures ( 9 ) along a feeding transmission line segment ( 7 ) are arranged at opposite sides of the feeding transmission line segment ( 7 ).

4. The phased array antenna device ( 1 ) according to claim 3 ,

wherein all antenna element transmission line segments ( 10 ) that originate on a first side of the feeding transmission line segment ( 7 ) run in a first direction parallel to the direction of the feeding transmission line segment ( 7 ),

whereas all antenna element transmission line segments ( 10 ) that originate on a second side of the feeding transmission line segment ( 7 ) opposite to the first side run in a second direction that is opposite to the first direction.

5. The phased array antenna device ( 1 ) according to claim 1 ,

wherein all antenna element transmission line segments have the same length.

6. The phased array antenna device ( 1 ) according to claim 1 ,

wherein all sections of the antenna element transmission line segments ( 10 ) run parallel to the feeding transmission line segment ( 7 ) or at an angle less than 50° with respect to the feeding transmission line segment ( 7 ) to which the respective antenna element transmission line segment ( 10 ) is coupled via the transition structure ( 9 ).

7. The phased array antenna device ( 1 ) according to claim 1 ,

wherein the unit cells ( 3 ) are arranged in a matrix shaped arrangement, and

wherein each of the feeding transmission line segments ( 7 ) runs along a straight line that traverses or passes by a plurality of unit cells ( 3 ) that are arranged along a straight line.

8. The phased array antenna device ( 1 ) according to claim 1 ,

wherein the feeding transmission line segments ( 7 ) are implemented as microstrip transmission lines with a line shaped microstrip electrode ( 12 ) arranged at a distance to a plane shaped ground electrode.

9. The phased array antenna device ( 1 ) according to claim 1 ,

wherein the feeding transmission line segments ( 7 ) are implemented as differential pair transmission lines with two similar line shaped differential pair electrodes running along the feeding transmission line segment ( 7 ).

10. The phased array antenna device ( 1 ) according to claim 1 ,

wherein each of the antenna element transmission line segments ( 10 ) is implemented as differential pair transmission line with two similar differential pair electrodes ( 16 , 18 ) running along the antenna element transmission line segment ( 10 ), and

wherein at least one of the two differential pair electrodes ( 16 ) of the antenna element transmission line segment ( 10 ) is electrically isolated from the corresponding feeding transmission line segment ( 7 ).

11. The phased array antenna device ( 1 ) according to claim 10 ,

wherein the transition structure ( 9 ) comprises two line shaped transition electrodes ( 12 , 15 ),

wherein the transition structure ( 9 ) also comprises an overlapping section with a part of least one of the two line shaped transition electrodes ( 15 ) running parallel but at a distance to the feeding transmission line segment ( 7 ) for signal coupling from the feeding transmission line segment ( 7 ) into the antenna element transmission line segment ( 10 ), and

wherein each of the two line shaped transition electrodes ( 12 , 15 ) runs into a corresponding one of the two differential pair electrodes ( 18 , 16 ) of the antenna element transmission line segment ( 10 ).